New developments in Spring vs. CFCC lawsuit

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Cape Fear Community College and the school's former president Ted Spring have resumed efforts to settle a lawsuit out of court.

Spring sued the college two years ago after he says he was abruptly forced to resign or be fired, violating his rights to due process. This came after a series of WECT reports highlighting questionable purchases Spring made with public money.

Spring says that he's unable to find work because of all the negative publicity surrounding his departure from the college, and unflattering statements made about him by some college officials.

CFCC's Board of Trustees had hoped to have the case thrown out for lack of merit, but a judge denied their request, allowing the case to proceed to trial.

Court documents show that during a final pretrial conference on April 13, the parties agreed to resume settlement efforts. A mediator has been retained to conduct those negotiations within the next 30 days.

The latest court filing also lists potential witnesses were this case to go to trial. They include a number of Spring's relatives and a local physician, listed as plaintiff's witnesses who could speak to damages Spring has suffered as a result of losing his job.

After the original publication of this story, Gary Shipman, the attorney for Dr. Spring, objected to the wording in the article, pointing out that none of Spring's purchases were questionable since they were approved by the CFO for CFCC. Shipman also objected to the description of public money, because the source of that money was from institutional funds, which are made up of income from food and vending operations.